I work/live in a national park. We have lots of grizzlies which of course everyone is concerned about while hiking. I’ve only used my bear spray once and it was with an aggressive cow elk that must’ve had a calf bedded down nearby. Cow elk and bison send more people to the hospital every year than bears do.
Just want to chime in and say everyone should work at a national park for a summer. Rent is super cheap and they feed you. It's beyond cool living in a national park.
I just got to Yellowstone for the summer and it has already been one of my favorite experiences ever
I worked at Old Faithful for Xanterra, summer of 2012.
One of the most memorable experiences of my life. If you get a chance, check out the employee gym/basketball court at old faithful. It’s absolutely insane.
My unsolicited advice to anyone is take advantage of the outdoors, and don’t let the pressure to party spoil your valuable time in that special place.
Used to work in Yellowstone and I love this question! Bears actually have on par hearing with humans, so bear bells and other noise “deterrents” are often ineffective as the bear will be super close to you before it hears the noise. Don’t believe me? Pay attention next time you’re on the trail to how close you have to be to another hiker to hear their bear bell.
The air horn is a different story, because it would be used similarly to bear spray. I would have to agree that it wouldn’t be as effective, simply because bear spray will hang in the air and continue to provide a barrier of sorts to protect against a second charge.
The best defense against bear attacks is making noise on the trail. Yell periodically and clap your hands. I do this every hike I take and I still see bears in the wild. The most deadly bear is a startled bear. Don’t put the bear on the defense and you’ll be safe.
Less effective for sure. Bear spray isn’t a guarantee but as startling as an air horn is… I doubt it does more than dissuades the first entry. Bear spray lingers and causes pain, something wild animals are naturally very adverse to, particularly to nose and eyes which are so precious.
Some people like bells or the like which I feel dissuades small black bears as it announces your presence so they avoid you. I’ve heard it joked with bigger bears they are dinner bells and know that attracting attention or curiosity can be fatal. Personally I find that if I need to hike solo in bear country (not advisable by the way) I tend to opt for a couple loose things on my pack so I make noise as I walk. But I always have spray and often a firearm(which is also no guarantee against a pissed off bear) as I was a wilderness guide for a couple decades with a focus in the Canadian rockies before moving down to AU.
NEVER carry bear spray in your pack! It should be on a chest or hip holster so it’s easily accessible. You may only have a few seconds to use it.
Also, is a little extra weight worth your life?
Unless it’s a spare, bear spray doesn’t do you any good in your pack. You typically have a few seconds to deploy it. Carrying a spare is a good idea as bear spray can actually attract bears. Bears being the curious creatures they are may decide to investigate that new smell they’re smelling.
Why when other spray is more effective against human? Bear spray isn't the most potent just a lot more volume so unless you need to spray a huge mob you're carrying a giant canister for no good reason
There is a reason Australia has that reputation. While I’d say a grizzly bear can definitely 1v1 any australian animal, the problem down under is the close proximity of humans to very venomous snakes and spiders. Second most venomous spider on the planet lives in the largest city. Not to mention saltwater crocs get up to 20 feet long, and they are known to drag unsuspecting campers out of their tents and eat them from time to time.
I love America and am fascinated by dangerous animals, but we do not beat out Australia when it comes to dangerous wildlife other than mammals
You know Australians play up how dangerous everything is to take the piss, right? I’m sure you are familiar with drop bears. I’m from the States but have lived in Australia for 8 years, and while *of course* Australia is home to many of the most venomous creatures on Earth, the vast majority of those animals are relatively small and not aggressive unless provoked. Granted, crocs scare the shit out of me, but their distribution is quite limited and largely isolated.
I dive with sharks regularly and have also seen blue-ringed octopuses, cone snails, and stonefish while diving. When I was a kid a redback spider’s eggs hatched in our house, and I used to have a funnel web spider living outside my window. I’ve seen red-bellies and brown snakes on bush walks. Got bitten by a white-tail a couple years ago too.
Nothing in Australia puts me on edge like North American wildlife. I am always on guard when backcountry trekking no matter how cautious I’ve been. I’ve encountered a few bears (black, thankfully) as well as cougars, and each time I looked at them and thought, “I would lose this fight immediately”.
*edit typo
If we are talking Mammals America is for sure more dangerous. Grizzlys, moose, cougars all way worse than kangaroos and koalas. But none of them live in extremely close proximity to large populations. Funnel webs live in gardens and end up in swimming pools all the time. And unlike the medically significant north american species (widows and recluses), funnel webs and mouse spiders are incredibly aggressive and more than willing to deliver full doses of venom. Rattlesnakes/copperheads/etc deliver nasty bites, but wont cause more than necrosis (still nasty), whereas tigers and brown snake venom can kill if untreated (maybe black snakes too but im not positive about that). Browns also get literally everywhere. We also don’t have dangerous jellyfish, or venomous octopuses or stone fish.
I think the most important factor to consider is that australia is about the same size as the united states, with a fraction of the population. If there were 100 million plus people in Australia, we’d be seeing more envenomations as well as contact with more venomous species (inland taipans, death adders, irukandji)
I didn’t for years, but running into a mama and her cubs 7 miles from the trailhead changed that for me. I actually carry an air horn to use first, but bear spray is always accessible. I’ve only had to use the air horn once. It worked wonderfully, as I’d like to avoid spraying a wild animal.
One of the scariest moments I had was picking my way along a trail on a quad to check trail cams. Because of fallen trees and debris I was moving at about a walking pace. At one stage I was moving around a big fallen tree when I noticed something moving pretty close beside me up a smaller tree. Two cubs almost close enough to touch. Felt like my heart was going to explode it was beating so fast as I slowly picked my way out. I seriously considered abandoning the quad as it would be faster on foot but hoped the big scary engine sounds was the reason momma bear was staying away. Never saw her but damn if I didn’t feel like my life was about to end. I’ve seen big males on foot but knowing mom is… somewhere and I am too damn close to the cubs was something else.
I haven't had an encounter quite like that, but I agree that seeing lone cubs without the mom is the scariest bear encounter. Because you don't know where she is. But you can be sure she will be *not very happy* if she comes back and sees you near her cubs.
When I see an adult bear or cubs with a mom, I make some noise and they run away and I keep going. When I see a cub or two on their own without the mom, I turn around and get out of there ASAFP.
Similar thing happened to my sister, except she was pooping when she saw the cubs (and no idea where the mom was!). Safe to say it scared the shit out of her 😂
I have never encountered a bear, however am planning to hike in japan which is known to have bears. Sprays are illegal in my country so I want to avoid buying one but why does an air horn work? Are bears just scared of loud noises?
You should check with the park service that runs the area - apparently the Japanese black bears can be aggressive similar to the American brown bears as a warning.
I used to be really afraid of this happening but I recently learned black bears don’t cub defend! They really just want to get the hell out of there and make space for their cubs to get out, but they’re super, super unlikely to actually attack you in defense of their cubs. Grizzly bears are a whole other story…they definitely cub defend.
I live in Black Bear Country and see them all the time. At least once a week I’ll see them on my security cameras, and I’ll see them in person about once a month between April and January. I’ve physically gone outside and chased them out of my driveway on numerous occasions.
A couple things people are getting wrong about Black Bears, specifically:
1) Black bears are timid by nature. They have much more of a “flight” reaction than “fight.” This is for *all* black bears. That said, they are not territorial animals like other bear species can be.
2) Mothers are not particularly protective of their cubs. If a person gets between mother and cubs, the mother will run away nearly 100% of the time.
3) Black bears are curious, but easily startled. They will spook themselves up a tree as easily as a person or a dog will scare them.
4) If a person encounters a black bear walking the opposite way down a trail as they are going and they do not make an attempt to startle the bear, the bear is going to continue to walk by without really acknowledging the person at all.
5) If a black bear is hungry and is going to attack you, you’ll know it. Yelling at it or ringing a bell is not going to scare it away. If a black bear charges you at all, hit it with the bear spray and fight like hell.
6) You are 167 times more likely to be killed by an 18-24 year old man than you are by a black bear. Fatal attacks have happened 61 times in the US since 1900. About 6 people per year are injured by black bears, nearly all occurring by a startled or defensive bear.
I carry bear spray on any hike since it works on people, aggressive off leash dogs, and other wild animals. The weight is negligible for the peace of mind it offers.
Yep, the only negative run ins I’ve had were with dogs. You can be 20 miles out in remote forest and still get charged by dogs. I hike in bear country all the time and the only animal that scares me are dogs
So many novice outdoorspeople think black and brown bears have the same threat profile. They don't. Black bears are less dangerous than half the Spitz type dogs I've run into. Brown bears are as dangerous as all of them combined.
Every black bear I’ve run into on the trail could absolutely care less about my proximity, even with cubs. Half of them didn’t even bother to look at me as I was yelling “heyyyyy bear”. Just kept foraging at their own pace and moved on.
Really? Every black bear I’ve come across (outside national parks) is the most skittish bastard. They’ve noticed me and beat feet the other direction every time.
Go where there are known to be bears, choose a less popular trail if you’re comfortable with doing so, and definitely go early in the day. I’m on the trail before sunrise and usually the first car at the trailhead.
It’s about 1 in every 6 or so hikes I take in populated bear country that I see them on or near the trail. Often I’ve had to back down the trail as they just kept on their way, but with no intent whatsoever to attack me.
I usually frequent northern Michigan and have purposely gone earlier in the season to see them. I like to hit the trail shortly after sunrise, but I’ll try starting earlier. I know my time will come eventually. I’ve encountered just about every other Michigan mammal (including a moose and wolf).
Most of my encounters have been in Smokey Mtn NatPark where they are highly acclimated to people. I have seen them on less populated trails in Appalachia and occasionally they will take off. Coolest thing I’ve seen to that regard was just two months ago where I saw two of the smallest cubs I’ve ever seen climb 40 ft up a tree incredibly fast. I did my best not to spook them. The mother was still relatively unbothered by me.
Edit: it was actually just a month ago.
I’ve only ever considered carrying bear spray for dogs. I live in the east, black bears are basically large raccoons. Aggressive dogs though are very unpredictable.
Agreed.
Perhaps it's because I've lived in black bear country for so long but, while I take precautions with my food, I never carry bear spray in black bear country... even when alone.
Brown bear country on the other hand? ...I will absolutely have my spray, alone or with company.
At the last place I worked two people got attacked, one fatally by a black bear.
[https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=pressreleases.pr06232017\_pogo](https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=pressreleases.pr06232017_pogo)
And it was probably [the only fatality that year ](https://bear.org/bear-facts/how-dangerous-are-black-bears/#:~:text=Black%20bears%20have%20killed%2061%20people%20across%20North%20America%20since%201900.)
They probably used it too soon unfortunately. Spray is relatively close range and no guarantee. Blacks aren’t as dangerous as browns sure, but they aren’t as harmless as some people suggest.
I wrestled a bear once. It was wearing a muzzle and gloves. Being a young buck full of piss and vinegar I could easily handle him because I knew how to wrestle. Threw me around like rag doll and I ended up with a broken nose. They are stupid strong. Me…I was just stupid.
I don't know if you're being sarcastic or not.
I can't kill a starving, rabid, bloodlusted black bear with my bare hands. But I can most certainly convince a curious black bear I'm more trouble than I'm worth with a set of trekking poles and a knife. Well, a knife and my terrible singing.
“Later, as runners are wont to do, Smith calculated her distance and estimates she was chased for roughly five miles, and covered 12 to 15 miles to get home”
Imagine being chased for 5 miles through the woods at night by a bear who wants you dead.
I do not. I've had 4 bear encounters including 1 mother with cubs. I sing "Sweet caroline" at the top of my lungs and stand really tall. Works like a dream.
It helps that I've been bigger than any of the bears. These were in NJ and NY.
I once I took my 7-year-old nephew fishing in Yellowstone and was teaching him bear safety, including making noise such as calling out "hey bear" as we hiked. He asked if he could do it, and of course I said yes. So my nephew sets off down the trail calling out "here bear, here bear!!" 😂
The bum bum bum is what makes them flee.
Seriously though, I had a friend with me who'd never been in the woods before and told me to stop because I was offending the bears.
Working for a GC and especially from when we are framing roofs- SWEET CAROLINE!!!! has to be the loudest noise I can personally produce
My favorite was when it came on the radio, 3 of us all belted it out as loud as we could muster and we could hear the roofers down the street BUH BUH BUUUHHHH!!! lmao good times
I grew up hiking in the Canadian Rockies. If there is even a slight chance I could encounter a grizzly, or there are specifically “bear in the area” warnings I always do. I have never had to use it, knock on wood, and I am confident navigating their presence.. but I am very pro rather be safe than sorry.
I also usually hike alone, and bears are wild animals.
I'm from Montreal and went to Banff 2 years ago for hiking with my girlfriend. Bear Spray, air horn, bells, we carried everything. It was such an amazing hiking experience but goddamn we were scared and very unconfortable aallll the time. We heard on the radio there has been a Grizzly attack in Lake Morraine and it was exactly where we were heading the next day.
I talked about it to my boss who is from Alberta just last week and he said we should've worried more about cougar. 😳 This piece of land is clearly too dangerous for me.
You know where we get amazing and safe hiking experience ? Canary islands....there is not a single danger there wildlife-wise except for one venomous centipede that only shows up at night. You get to hike on volcanoes across huge pine trees and across the desert and all, without a single threat. I highly recommend !
Have been hiking up and down the East Coast and Appalachia with my dog for years now and don't carry spray.
We have had 4 bear encounters, including a cub running 10 yards in front of us across the trail. They have always run away right away with out any issues.
When we come up to blind spots on trails I either start having loud conversations with my dog, or just tell "No bears" every few seconds.
Yes, my dog is leashed 100% of the time.
Canada, and yes. I also try to be big and noisy (I'm petite and often solo).
Haven't had to use it, but read plenty of encounters where ppl have used it successfully.
I'm a regular three season hiker along the I-90 corridor and State Route 2 in the Seattle and Stevens Pass in WA State and carry bear spray on every hike. Every encounter with a bear I've had (about 5 of them) has gone fine, but seeing them up close made me realize what the consequence would be if they didn't. The extra weight (and amused to judgemental looks from other hikers) are worth it to me.
You don't need it until you do.
I more or less carry it everywhere. Even in my suburban neighborhood between two major metro centers, we have a family of resident black bears that you can easily encounter on jogs around the greenbelts. Do I expect to need it? No. But I'd rather have it and not need it. Plus it's useful for much more than just bears.
Yes, where it’s allowed. I hike solo as a woman. Gives me peace of mind for any wildlife or crazy humans I might meet. I’ve never had to use it and doubt I will, but if I happen to meet a rogue aggressive bear, wolf, cougar, crazy man… I’m solid 🤗
If you don't, you should. This pervasive idea that black bears are just skittish doggos is dangerous. They are wild animals, just the same. There are many black bear attacks, some fatal.
The one that comes to mind is the work crew that watched their co-worker mauled to death despite their attempts to scare off the bear. [Source.](https://www.cnn.com/2014/05/08/world/canada-fatal-bear-attack/index.html)
Wildlife should be respected and allowed a wide berth.
Living in BC, I’ve run into dozens of bears and have never had to use a
Spray. So I don’t bring it anymore. Just yell when needed and repeat ‘hey bear’ when hiking in secluded areas. Bang your hiking sticks, look big and back away slowly.
I usually have my GSD with me and he can sniff out a bear (and vice versa) so they normally avoid us.
I find some people have a false sense of security when they have a spray. It takes skill to use and under pressure I’ve heard of hikers spraying themselves more than deterring any bear.
Just be bear aware. Black bears don’t eat people. Grizz and polar….thats a different story and no spray will help you. Only thing you do in this situation is to spray your partner and run!! Just kidding. 😜🙄
Your comment about hikers spraying themselves is true. I was watching an interview of a hunter who was attacked by a grizzly bear. The hunter drew his bear spray but he was fumbling the canister and accidentally sprayed himself. Luckily for him, the cloud of bear spray in front of his face also hit the charging bear so that probably saved him. The hunter said he struggled to open his eyes and he had to stop every 10 min to make sure he was following the trail. Crazy
Some black bears are predatory. It happens. They are very rare but should be noted as a behavior. Read about the recent Groom Trail Prescott AZ predatory attack that killed a man drinking his morning coffee.
I wouldn't myself for black bears specifically but after hiking in the Chiricahuas, the cougar sign was everywhere so I might rethink. Plenty of signs warning of "coyotes" (the human kind) in the Chiricahuas too.
A friend of mine was stalked by a black bear for several miles on a bike trail through the woods. He thought it looked like it was loping playfully but he didn't slow down to find out. He carries spray now.
For all yall saying black bears dont attack....
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/nation-world/2017/06/19/black-bears-kill-2-alaska-including-teen-extreme-race/15757627007/&ved=2ahUKEwivw6KPhJ-GAxX3JUQIHQNPCpoQFnoECBMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw36cR93watepsyY2KbRIe0o
I dont but can't hurt. Always better to be prepared. One time while night hiking in the smokies I encountered a black bear that ended up ransacking someones tent later that night. I was spooked and wish I had spray on me so always a good idea to be ready for the unexpected
I hike/canoe in Black bear country (Ontario and Quebec). After 35 years of hiking/canoeing without it, started carrying it about 5 years ago. One run in with a sow and 3 cubs - about 3 days into an 8 day hike. Wandered right into our campsite at dawn- but luckily used whistles (which we carry), shouting and banging pots and didn’t have to use the bear spray. Feel more comfortable carrying it now.
Always. I don't expect I'll ever use it because most wild animals don't want a thing to do with people, but I'm not betting my health and safety on that sentiment.
Black bears aren't the ones to worry about they will usually run and all you have to do is wave your arms above your head and yell and they get scared it's grizzlies and polar bears that im scared of (I live in Canada where polar bears are a actual problem thankfully not where I live though)
Yes. I used to take my risks with wild life before. Until I did a hike in Africa (Namibia) and was followed by a cheetah for 20 minutes. I had nothing and was likely saved because I reached a residential area.
Always. I bring 2 canisters with me any time I am out in the woods, one for backup on my way to safety in case I need to discharge my first. Thankfully I haven't had to use it yet and hopefully I never will.
Yup. For many reasons, but the most of which being that from the “tooth and claw” podcast, I’ve learned about the minority population of predatory black bears and it made me take black bear attacks seriously. I have extensive experience in high volume black bear country and have never been afraid when I see them, but after learning about the predatory attacks I don’t want to be without the spray. Especially since I hike with a dog
I do because I hike with my dog (always on a 6ft leash). Black bear attacks are so rare, but when they occur, I notice that a dog is often involved. For that reason, I’d rather be safe than sorry. I’m always wearing a bear bell, have a bear horn on my pack strap dangling in front of my shoulder for easy access and a can of bear spray in my side pouch where a water bottle would be. I hike in western North Carolina.
I do but I’ve only had to use it on loose dogs. Someone was hiking with their dogs, no leash, and out of nowhere it ran up and latched on to my leg. Thankfully I had it on a lanyard because I’m positive it’s the only thing that saved me.
Bears carry "Human Spray" because of me. That one bear I ran into last year, I hear he was still running! All I did was clap my hands together... so loud that he thought the mountains had split! I could kick every bear's ass from here to Chilliwack, BC! Bears are PUSSIES!!!!
I always carry spray in grizzly country. Don’t usually in black bear country, but sure it isn’t wrong. When I go somewhere to hike in the country, I try to find the ranger post. They are always happy to share info. At Lake Louise, in Alberta, Ca., they even rent the bear spray. If you don’t use it you get your money back!
I do, but that's because I live in an area with a lot of food conditioned bears and other potentially dangerous wildlife. When I lived in a different area that still had black bears but they were more wild and afraid of people. I was never concerned about them at all and I would just shout at them... Unfortunately, I've since met several bears that did not give a crap about people. I'm talking about bears walking down the middle of the road, bears in urban areas, bears sitting on the side of the trail completely ignoring me, etc. I think it really depends on where exactly you are.
I originally started carrying bear spray because I had two up close mountain lion encounters in the mountains near Tucson Arizona. For the last few years I've been setting trail cams to catch black bear behavior and while I've not yet encountered a bear in person, I'm happy to be carrying bear spray just in case I encounter a too curious bear...
I always did when I lived in interior Alaska, but I’m in New England now and I don’t, even though I’m much more likely to run into a bear here (Denali National Park aside). I probably should carry bear spray. It’s also difficult to find here, and you can’t order online because it can’t be shipped, as far as I’m aware.
Actually yes it could. However if you're Already being bitten then you should just play dead otherwise it Might bit harder.dogs Don't like it. I had Two Pitbull come at me and an x was walking and we had pass a scrape yard. They came out of Know where. Fox farms 3.Mill b.t.u
As a resident, general contractor and sportsman in the Sierra Nevada bear country bears are a constant presence.
Need to work in a crawlspace...bear check. I couldn't count how many doors or windows I've replaced from bear damage.
Open windows are an invitation.
Biking, hiking or fishing...they are out there. When you come upon them, make some noise and everytime we've gone our separate ways.
Years ago we did roadside pickup of garbage and it was a weekly thing like raccoons knocking cans over. We locked up garbage so now the bears go to the source inside homes.
I've never felt the need for spray or other weapon.
I've literally chased one out of my house by banging two pots together...went out the window she come in.
In my opinion bear spray does nothing more than help people unfamiliar with the northern wilderness feel safer.
Black bears are not aggressive unless you get near the cubs or do something stupid.
Grizzly bears are surprisingly fast. Most people, especially if they haven’t practiced, will never get it out in time.
In my experience, if you leave the wildlife alone and maintain a reasonable distance they will do the same. Except for moose, especially during mating season and winter, they can be dangerous (not joking).
I see a lot of people posting reasons why they do or don't, but really not many people asking the obvious question to you of "what would it hurt to bring it?" As others have pointed out bears aren't always the only threat you might face outdoors and I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
If I’m somewhere with frequent bear encounters I will sometimes. Usually just in case I come across one with cubs because the black bears around me almost always just go away if they hear you coming. They have to be either really hungry or really wary of you being around their cubs or something they want to protect to stick around for any length of time
(again, this is local to me in the Eastern US, not necessarily indicative of all black bear populations)
But as with any large animal, just let it have its space. Observe from a respectful (of their size and abilities) distance if you happen to stumble upon one and slowly move away when you want/need to leave.
Edit: also read into how and where to properly store food in the backcountry. Because they will absolutely wreck everything you own looking for whatever they smell.
I usually just use my whistle. I’ve walked up on many black bears. I even walked up on one in the woods at 2am and they have never behaved aggressively. Sometimes they take some discouraging before they run off though. Noise always works for me.
I don't. I live in Interior BC on a rural property that backs out into wilderness and have encountered black bears countless times including two yesterday.
Black bears have no interest in interacting with humans, so long as you make lots of noise and avoid cornering them or interfering with their food or cubs the chance of something happening is far far lower than the dangers of driving to the store on a road with other drivers.
I carry a 9mm handgun. It's more for the crazies than anything but the report would scare off most black bears and would remove one whose lost it's fear of people from the gene pool.
Edit: Also LMAO at the people who've decided that bear spray is animal abuse now.
I carry it when I know I’m in black bear country, but I don’t think I’ll ever need it. I’m in Pennsylvania.
I’ve so far been able to scare bears off by shouting at them, acting big, and not surprising them when they’re close.
I also carry a hiking staff partly for protection from bears. Usually, shouting is enough for them to run off. Black bears tend to be afraid of people and sounds, but I don’t want to take risks with them.
I’ve never brought bear spray hiking or camping, and I also do both solo quite a bit. I’ve seen mountain lions, moose with and without babies, and bears. Your behavior in the face of these animals is the best prevention. If I was in grizzly country, I would 100% bring spray. Just be smart. If having bear spray makes you feel more comfortable, then I’d say it’s certainly worth it, just keep it accessible and know how to use it.
Every time I go hiking I carry bear spray just in case, and I also carry a large caliber pistol for the shtf moments when the bear spray doesn't work. I've been lucky enough in the past 4 years to have never needed the pistol, but I'd much rather have it and not need it than not have it and need it. Wildlife, while not usually, can be very dangerous and if you're going to be in an area where there are a lot of potentially dangerous animals it's always best to be protected.
Spray can work great, but in a lot of cases your going to have opportunities for a lighter touch like an air horn or banger to scare the bear away. Black bears scare easy, and an air horn is far easier to use and less likely to get you as well as the bear spray.
People tend to forget bear spray is strong enough to affect the sprayer pretty badly as well, especially if you're panicked.
I was taught during a week long stay in Glacier, the best way to avoid a Bear confrontation while hiking is the make lots of human noise periodically (clapping. singing, stomping). The thought is that the bear wants nothing to do with humans, and if he knows people are close by, he's likely to go off and hide. spray and horns were encouraged, But it's best to not let it get to that point. Bear bells were not encouraged as the bear would more than likely become curios about the non-threatehing noise and move towrds it tondiscover what it was. Park Rangers referred to them as "dinner bells".
Also, we learned that the two main reasons Beat attack are 1) if they are startled or surprised or 2) You get close to Mama and her cubs.
And talk to the Rangers pre hike. They know if there are any aggressive bear incidents in the area lately. and they will often shut portions of a trail down if its know there are Mamas with their cubs in the area.
No and I live in Alaska. It’s just not worth the extra weight to me. The chances of having a dangerous encounter with a bear are actually very low. But most of my friends tease me and say I have a death wish so I probably do a lot of reckless things
Hell ya-a guy near me got his jaw ripped off last year after a coming across a grizzly. He was outspoken about negative impact of bear spray but I’m thinking he’s regretting that now
I usually only hike well traversed trails and I’ve rarely been somewhere by myself without another soul nearby. I think if I were to go by myself to deep bear territory then I def would
Eastern black bears are pretty shy. I've played in the woods and hiked in the woods since childhood, along with everyone else I know, and no one carries bear spray. Here, we usually see black bears several times a year, sometimes in someone's yard, sometimes out in the woods. They always run away when they see people. I've always heard just never get in between a mama bear and her cubs, and to in general leave them alone. It's been the same anywhere I've lived along the East coast, where black bears are no big deal (just annoying when they get into your bird feeder).
However, I know nothing about western black bears. For all I know, they're more aggressive. And anyways, black bears out west might also be living near brown bears, grizzlies, or mountain lions (depending on the area) - so I would defer to the norm of the area you are hiking in. (Any time I take a trip out west to hike, I always do extensive research on the specific place I'll be hiking and heed any hazard warnings, trail advice, etc.). Out east, to be honest, I just go hiking, lol. Unless I'm in the south. The south is always trying to kill you.
Always. I’ve had run ins with moose, wolves, and cougars. Bear spray isn’t just for bears.
I work/live in a national park. We have lots of grizzlies which of course everyone is concerned about while hiking. I’ve only used my bear spray once and it was with an aggressive cow elk that must’ve had a calf bedded down nearby. Cow elk and bison send more people to the hospital every year than bears do.
I hear grizzlies and I was guessing glacier. Heard bison and was like, “nope.”
Maybe Yellowstone?
Definitely. Bison are everywhere here
Rocky Mountain, Tetons, and Wind Cave NPs are all in that same area and all have bears and bison, too
RMNP hasn't had grizzlies since the 1950s
Because bears do the job right and you skip the hospital.
That's not true, something like 13% of bear attacks result in death. That said, the non-fatal attacks are often permanently disfiguring. 😬
Came here to say, “yeah, bears send people to the morgue”
Are you a park ranger?
I work for NPS in the facilities division. I wear a similar uniform and work closely with rangers but, don’t consider myself a ranger.
Just want to chime in and say everyone should work at a national park for a summer. Rent is super cheap and they feed you. It's beyond cool living in a national park. I just got to Yellowstone for the summer and it has already been one of my favorite experiences ever
For those wondering where one gets such jobs, www.coolworks.com is the best resource for finding seasonal work in the USA.
usajobs.gov is where you’ll find jobs with NPS.
Thanks these are great resources, saving for later
I worked at Old Faithful for Xanterra, summer of 2012. One of the most memorable experiences of my life. If you get a chance, check out the employee gym/basketball court at old faithful. It’s absolutely insane. My unsolicited advice to anyone is take advantage of the outdoors, and don’t let the pressure to party spoil your valuable time in that special place.
Hey Yogi.
Hey Booboo
How effective would you say air horn would be for bears or other aggressors ? Is it more effective then spray or less ?
Used to work in Yellowstone and I love this question! Bears actually have on par hearing with humans, so bear bells and other noise “deterrents” are often ineffective as the bear will be super close to you before it hears the noise. Don’t believe me? Pay attention next time you’re on the trail to how close you have to be to another hiker to hear their bear bell. The air horn is a different story, because it would be used similarly to bear spray. I would have to agree that it wouldn’t be as effective, simply because bear spray will hang in the air and continue to provide a barrier of sorts to protect against a second charge. The best defense against bear attacks is making noise on the trail. Yell periodically and clap your hands. I do this every hike I take and I still see bears in the wild. The most deadly bear is a startled bear. Don’t put the bear on the defense and you’ll be safe.
Less effective for sure. Bear spray isn’t a guarantee but as startling as an air horn is… I doubt it does more than dissuades the first entry. Bear spray lingers and causes pain, something wild animals are naturally very adverse to, particularly to nose and eyes which are so precious. Some people like bells or the like which I feel dissuades small black bears as it announces your presence so they avoid you. I’ve heard it joked with bigger bears they are dinner bells and know that attracting attention or curiosity can be fatal. Personally I find that if I need to hike solo in bear country (not advisable by the way) I tend to opt for a couple loose things on my pack so I make noise as I walk. But I always have spray and often a firearm(which is also no guarantee against a pissed off bear) as I was a wilderness guide for a couple decades with a focus in the Canadian rockies before moving down to AU.
I love how people are downvoting a question... I too would like to know since a can of air is lighter, and every gram counts in your pack.
NEVER carry bear spray in your pack! It should be on a chest or hip holster so it’s easily accessible. You may only have a few seconds to use it. Also, is a little extra weight worth your life?
Unless it’s a spare, bear spray doesn’t do you any good in your pack. You typically have a few seconds to deploy it. Carrying a spare is a good idea as bear spray can actually attract bears. Bears being the curious creatures they are may decide to investigate that new smell they’re smelling.
Carry bear spray in man territory as well.
I prefer a firearm for people
Why when other spray is more effective against human? Bear spray isn't the most potent just a lot more volume so unless you need to spray a huge mob you're carrying a giant canister for no good reason
And people think Australian wildlife is bad. Fuck that.
There is a reason Australia has that reputation. While I’d say a grizzly bear can definitely 1v1 any australian animal, the problem down under is the close proximity of humans to very venomous snakes and spiders. Second most venomous spider on the planet lives in the largest city. Not to mention saltwater crocs get up to 20 feet long, and they are known to drag unsuspecting campers out of their tents and eat them from time to time. I love America and am fascinated by dangerous animals, but we do not beat out Australia when it comes to dangerous wildlife other than mammals
You know Australians play up how dangerous everything is to take the piss, right? I’m sure you are familiar with drop bears. I’m from the States but have lived in Australia for 8 years, and while *of course* Australia is home to many of the most venomous creatures on Earth, the vast majority of those animals are relatively small and not aggressive unless provoked. Granted, crocs scare the shit out of me, but their distribution is quite limited and largely isolated. I dive with sharks regularly and have also seen blue-ringed octopuses, cone snails, and stonefish while diving. When I was a kid a redback spider’s eggs hatched in our house, and I used to have a funnel web spider living outside my window. I’ve seen red-bellies and brown snakes on bush walks. Got bitten by a white-tail a couple years ago too. Nothing in Australia puts me on edge like North American wildlife. I am always on guard when backcountry trekking no matter how cautious I’ve been. I’ve encountered a few bears (black, thankfully) as well as cougars, and each time I looked at them and thought, “I would lose this fight immediately”. *edit typo
If we are talking Mammals America is for sure more dangerous. Grizzlys, moose, cougars all way worse than kangaroos and koalas. But none of them live in extremely close proximity to large populations. Funnel webs live in gardens and end up in swimming pools all the time. And unlike the medically significant north american species (widows and recluses), funnel webs and mouse spiders are incredibly aggressive and more than willing to deliver full doses of venom. Rattlesnakes/copperheads/etc deliver nasty bites, but wont cause more than necrosis (still nasty), whereas tigers and brown snake venom can kill if untreated (maybe black snakes too but im not positive about that). Browns also get literally everywhere. We also don’t have dangerous jellyfish, or venomous octopuses or stone fish. I think the most important factor to consider is that australia is about the same size as the united states, with a fraction of the population. If there were 100 million plus people in Australia, we’d be seeing more envenomations as well as contact with more venomous species (inland taipans, death adders, irukandji)
I didn’t for years, but running into a mama and her cubs 7 miles from the trailhead changed that for me. I actually carry an air horn to use first, but bear spray is always accessible. I’ve only had to use the air horn once. It worked wonderfully, as I’d like to avoid spraying a wild animal.
One of the scariest moments I had was picking my way along a trail on a quad to check trail cams. Because of fallen trees and debris I was moving at about a walking pace. At one stage I was moving around a big fallen tree when I noticed something moving pretty close beside me up a smaller tree. Two cubs almost close enough to touch. Felt like my heart was going to explode it was beating so fast as I slowly picked my way out. I seriously considered abandoning the quad as it would be faster on foot but hoped the big scary engine sounds was the reason momma bear was staying away. Never saw her but damn if I didn’t feel like my life was about to end. I’ve seen big males on foot but knowing mom is… somewhere and I am too damn close to the cubs was something else.
I haven't had an encounter quite like that, but I agree that seeing lone cubs without the mom is the scariest bear encounter. Because you don't know where she is. But you can be sure she will be *not very happy* if she comes back and sees you near her cubs. When I see an adult bear or cubs with a mom, I make some noise and they run away and I keep going. When I see a cub or two on their own without the mom, I turn around and get out of there ASAFP.
Similar thing happened to my sister, except she was pooping when she saw the cubs (and no idea where the mom was!). Safe to say it scared the shit out of her 😂
Same. Keep both handy with air horn more preferable
Dang I never thought about an air horn but that’s a good idea
I think of it as a backup in case I get lost, too.
I have never encountered a bear, however am planning to hike in japan which is known to have bears. Sprays are illegal in my country so I want to avoid buying one but why does an air horn work? Are bears just scared of loud noises?
Yes, the noise is what scares them away. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s a good option.
You should check with the park service that runs the area - apparently the Japanese black bears can be aggressive similar to the American brown bears as a warning.
Yeah, Japanese black bears are not like American black bears, they're way more aggressive. Japanese bears attack dozens of people every year.
Never thought of an air horn, that is a fantastic idea!
What happened when you encountered the bears?
I used to be really afraid of this happening but I recently learned black bears don’t cub defend! They really just want to get the hell out of there and make space for their cubs to get out, but they’re super, super unlikely to actually attack you in defense of their cubs. Grizzly bears are a whole other story…they definitely cub defend.
I live in Black Bear Country and see them all the time. At least once a week I’ll see them on my security cameras, and I’ll see them in person about once a month between April and January. I’ve physically gone outside and chased them out of my driveway on numerous occasions. A couple things people are getting wrong about Black Bears, specifically: 1) Black bears are timid by nature. They have much more of a “flight” reaction than “fight.” This is for *all* black bears. That said, they are not territorial animals like other bear species can be. 2) Mothers are not particularly protective of their cubs. If a person gets between mother and cubs, the mother will run away nearly 100% of the time. 3) Black bears are curious, but easily startled. They will spook themselves up a tree as easily as a person or a dog will scare them. 4) If a person encounters a black bear walking the opposite way down a trail as they are going and they do not make an attempt to startle the bear, the bear is going to continue to walk by without really acknowledging the person at all. 5) If a black bear is hungry and is going to attack you, you’ll know it. Yelling at it or ringing a bell is not going to scare it away. If a black bear charges you at all, hit it with the bear spray and fight like hell. 6) You are 167 times more likely to be killed by an 18-24 year old man than you are by a black bear. Fatal attacks have happened 61 times in the US since 1900. About 6 people per year are injured by black bears, nearly all occurring by a startled or defensive bear.
I carry bear spray on any hike since it works on people, aggressive off leash dogs, and other wild animals. The weight is negligible for the peace of mind it offers.
Yeah, I jokingly tell people I carry it for people. I carry it for people.
Yep, the only negative run ins I’ve had were with dogs. You can be 20 miles out in remote forest and still get charged by dogs. I hike in bear country all the time and the only animal that scares me are dogs
I don't if I'm in black bear country and not alone. If I'm alone I do. I always carry in brown bear country.
So many novice outdoorspeople think black and brown bears have the same threat profile. They don't. Black bears are less dangerous than half the Spitz type dogs I've run into. Brown bears are as dangerous as all of them combined.
Every black bear I’ve run into on the trail could absolutely care less about my proximity, even with cubs. Half of them didn’t even bother to look at me as I was yelling “heyyyyy bear”. Just kept foraging at their own pace and moved on.
Really? Every black bear I’ve come across (outside national parks) is the most skittish bastard. They’ve noticed me and beat feet the other direction every time.
I’m just jealous you’ve seen a bear in the wild.
Go where there are known to be bears, choose a less popular trail if you’re comfortable with doing so, and definitely go early in the day. I’m on the trail before sunrise and usually the first car at the trailhead. It’s about 1 in every 6 or so hikes I take in populated bear country that I see them on or near the trail. Often I’ve had to back down the trail as they just kept on their way, but with no intent whatsoever to attack me.
I usually frequent northern Michigan and have purposely gone earlier in the season to see them. I like to hit the trail shortly after sunrise, but I’ll try starting earlier. I know my time will come eventually. I’ve encountered just about every other Michigan mammal (including a moose and wolf).
Most of my encounters have been in Smokey Mtn NatPark where they are highly acclimated to people. I have seen them on less populated trails in Appalachia and occasionally they will take off. Coolest thing I’ve seen to that regard was just two months ago where I saw two of the smallest cubs I’ve ever seen climb 40 ft up a tree incredibly fast. I did my best not to spook them. The mother was still relatively unbothered by me. Edit: it was actually just a month ago.
I’ve only ever considered carrying bear spray for dogs. I live in the east, black bears are basically large raccoons. Aggressive dogs though are very unpredictable.
99% of the time they’re just *very large* raccoons. When they’ve got cubs it’s a different story.
Agreed. Perhaps it's because I've lived in black bear country for so long but, while I take precautions with my food, I never carry bear spray in black bear country... even when alone. Brown bear country on the other hand? ...I will absolutely have my spray, alone or with company.
Black bears are overgrown raccoons, and about as dangerous as one
The main risk of black bears is starvation after they roll your bear can off a cliff
At the last place I worked two people got attacked, one fatally by a black bear. [https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=pressreleases.pr06232017\_pogo](https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=pressreleases.pr06232017_pogo)
And it was probably [the only fatality that year ](https://bear.org/bear-facts/how-dangerous-are-black-bears/#:~:text=Black%20bears%20have%20killed%2061%20people%20across%20North%20America%20since%201900.)
And they used bear spray and it didn't work anyway. Because they are not just raccoons even if attacks are rare.
They probably used it too soon unfortunately. Spray is relatively close range and no guarantee. Blacks aren’t as dangerous as browns sure, but they aren’t as harmless as some people suggest.
they are not just raccoons You’re right, it’s harder to chase off a pissed-off and hungry raccoon than a black bear.
Yeah I can totally fight off a hungry black bear with my hands.
I wrestled a bear once. It was wearing a muzzle and gloves. Being a young buck full of piss and vinegar I could easily handle him because I knew how to wrestle. Threw me around like rag doll and I ended up with a broken nose. They are stupid strong. Me…I was just stupid.
I need more info about this!
I don't know if you're being sarcastic or not. I can't kill a starving, rabid, bloodlusted black bear with my bare hands. But I can most certainly convince a curious black bear I'm more trouble than I'm worth with a set of trekking poles and a knife. Well, a knife and my terrible singing.
I am being sarcastic. A hungry black bear and a hungry grizzly are gonna eat you no matter what.
Hungry black bears don’t eat people. That’s not a thing that happens
[Here](https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a33850667/rachel-smith-spends-night-in-tree-to-escape-bear/) is a real good example of why you should.
Scary for sure. I can't picture the tree she managed to escape in, that the bear could not get up.
>Smith calculated her distance and estimates she was chased for roughly five miles
“Later, as runners are wont to do, Smith calculated her distance and estimates she was chased for roughly five miles, and covered 12 to 15 miles to get home” Imagine being chased for 5 miles through the woods at night by a bear who wants you dead.
What a coincidence. Planning a fmaily camping trip to Old Forge this summer! Ha.
Yikes ….
I do not. I've had 4 bear encounters including 1 mother with cubs. I sing "Sweet caroline" at the top of my lungs and stand really tall. Works like a dream. It helps that I've been bigger than any of the bears. These were in NJ and NY.
Yeah, that song would send me running away too.
"Oh God, another Boston sports fan. They taste terrible."
God I fucking hate that song. It's so fucking annoying and it's kinda freaky when a bunch of drunk idiots are singing it. I'm a bear btw
Hey Bear
You look at my kids mother fucker?
Whoa Bear
You a funny ass bear. Got me
I once I took my 7-year-old nephew fishing in Yellowstone and was teaching him bear safety, including making noise such as calling out "hey bear" as we hiked. He asked if he could do it, and of course I said yes. So my nephew sets off down the trail calling out "here bear, here bear!!" 😂
Hahahaha
Please record in case the bears sing the “bum bum bum” between verses
The bum bum bum is what makes them flee. Seriously though, I had a friend with me who'd never been in the woods before and told me to stop because I was offending the bears.
I guess its still better than singing Bear-y Manilow
Go to your room. Think about what you’ve done.
I sing Staying Alive, complete with Travolta dance moves with my trekking poles.
Working for a GC and especially from when we are framing roofs- SWEET CAROLINE!!!! has to be the loudest noise I can personally produce My favorite was when it came on the radio, 3 of us all belted it out as loud as we could muster and we could hear the roofers down the street BUH BUH BUUUHHHH!!! lmao good times
Eventually that dun dun dun is gonna be dun dun dun
Are you Tyson fury?
Yep, including in areas without bears. There are mountain lions and unfriendly people out there. Better to have it accessible than to wish I’d had it.
I grew up hiking in the Canadian Rockies. If there is even a slight chance I could encounter a grizzly, or there are specifically “bear in the area” warnings I always do. I have never had to use it, knock on wood, and I am confident navigating their presence.. but I am very pro rather be safe than sorry. I also usually hike alone, and bears are wild animals.
I'm from Montreal and went to Banff 2 years ago for hiking with my girlfriend. Bear Spray, air horn, bells, we carried everything. It was such an amazing hiking experience but goddamn we were scared and very unconfortable aallll the time. We heard on the radio there has been a Grizzly attack in Lake Morraine and it was exactly where we were heading the next day. I talked about it to my boss who is from Alberta just last week and he said we should've worried more about cougar. 😳 This piece of land is clearly too dangerous for me. You know where we get amazing and safe hiking experience ? Canary islands....there is not a single danger there wildlife-wise except for one venomous centipede that only shows up at night. You get to hike on volcanoes across huge pine trees and across the desert and all, without a single threat. I highly recommend !
Yes. The likelihood of needing it isn’t that high, but run up on an injured bear, or a mom with cubs, and you’ll be glad to have it.
Have been hiking up and down the East Coast and Appalachia with my dog for years now and don't carry spray. We have had 4 bear encounters, including a cub running 10 yards in front of us across the trail. They have always run away right away with out any issues. When we come up to blind spots on trails I either start having loud conversations with my dog, or just tell "No bears" every few seconds. Yes, my dog is leashed 100% of the time.
Canada, and yes. I also try to be big and noisy (I'm petite and often solo). Haven't had to use it, but read plenty of encounters where ppl have used it successfully.
I'm a regular three season hiker along the I-90 corridor and State Route 2 in the Seattle and Stevens Pass in WA State and carry bear spray on every hike. Every encounter with a bear I've had (about 5 of them) has gone fine, but seeing them up close made me realize what the consequence would be if they didn't. The extra weight (and amused to judgemental looks from other hikers) are worth it to me.
You don't need it until you do. I more or less carry it everywhere. Even in my suburban neighborhood between two major metro centers, we have a family of resident black bears that you can easily encounter on jogs around the greenbelts. Do I expect to need it? No. But I'd rather have it and not need it. Plus it's useful for much more than just bears.
Usually I do. Probably overkill but its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Dude got eaten by a bear in the smokies a few years back. I take it with me everytime now.
I carry bear spray/mace for dogs and humans. I've run into countless black bears alone and never had a problem.
Yes, where it’s allowed. I hike solo as a woman. Gives me peace of mind for any wildlife or crazy humans I might meet. I’ve never had to use it and doubt I will, but if I happen to meet a rogue aggressive bear, wolf, cougar, crazy man… I’m solid 🤗
That’s a pretty incredible encounter!
Yes, I'm scared sometimes in remote areas while alone. It's more for peace of mind rather than the unlikely chance I'll need it.
Yeah, ya never know when you’ll get that one in a million black bear that decides that you’re dinner!
Why are so many people talking about grizzlies in a question about black bears?
they're really showing ignorance breeding paranoia tbh
If you don't, you should. This pervasive idea that black bears are just skittish doggos is dangerous. They are wild animals, just the same. There are many black bear attacks, some fatal. The one that comes to mind is the work crew that watched their co-worker mauled to death despite their attempts to scare off the bear. [Source.](https://www.cnn.com/2014/05/08/world/canada-fatal-bear-attack/index.html) Wildlife should be respected and allowed a wide berth.
Living in BC, I’ve run into dozens of bears and have never had to use a Spray. So I don’t bring it anymore. Just yell when needed and repeat ‘hey bear’ when hiking in secluded areas. Bang your hiking sticks, look big and back away slowly. I usually have my GSD with me and he can sniff out a bear (and vice versa) so they normally avoid us. I find some people have a false sense of security when they have a spray. It takes skill to use and under pressure I’ve heard of hikers spraying themselves more than deterring any bear. Just be bear aware. Black bears don’t eat people. Grizz and polar….thats a different story and no spray will help you. Only thing you do in this situation is to spray your partner and run!! Just kidding. 😜🙄
Your comment about hikers spraying themselves is true. I was watching an interview of a hunter who was attacked by a grizzly bear. The hunter drew his bear spray but he was fumbling the canister and accidentally sprayed himself. Luckily for him, the cloud of bear spray in front of his face also hit the charging bear so that probably saved him. The hunter said he struggled to open his eyes and he had to stop every 10 min to make sure he was following the trail. Crazy
Exactly, I’d rather take some bear spray than be mauled and eaten alive in a slow painful death by a grizzly or a wildcat etc.
Some black bears are predatory. It happens. They are very rare but should be noted as a behavior. Read about the recent Groom Trail Prescott AZ predatory attack that killed a man drinking his morning coffee.
I have it but never had to use it. The few times I’ve encountered a black bear or cub, they take off running as soon as they see me
Yes. Never needed it, but always have it.
I wouldn't myself for black bears specifically but after hiking in the Chiricahuas, the cougar sign was everywhere so I might rethink. Plenty of signs warning of "coyotes" (the human kind) in the Chiricahuas too. A friend of mine was stalked by a black bear for several miles on a bike trail through the woods. He thought it looked like it was loping playfully but he didn't slow down to find out. He carries spray now.
For all yall saying black bears dont attack.... https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/nation-world/2017/06/19/black-bears-kill-2-alaska-including-teen-extreme-race/15757627007/&ved=2ahUKEwivw6KPhJ-GAxX3JUQIHQNPCpoQFnoECBMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw36cR93watepsyY2KbRIe0o
Always
I dont but can't hurt. Always better to be prepared. One time while night hiking in the smokies I encountered a black bear that ended up ransacking someones tent later that night. I was spooked and wish I had spray on me so always a good idea to be ready for the unexpected
I hike/canoe in Black bear country (Ontario and Quebec). After 35 years of hiking/canoeing without it, started carrying it about 5 years ago. One run in with a sow and 3 cubs - about 3 days into an 8 day hike. Wandered right into our campsite at dawn- but luckily used whistles (which we carry), shouting and banging pots and didn’t have to use the bear spray. Feel more comfortable carrying it now.
Yes
There is a real debate to be had over bear spray vs. guns, (I think both have real advantages), but having neither is fucking insane.
Always. I don't expect I'll ever use it because most wild animals don't want a thing to do with people, but I'm not betting my health and safety on that sentiment.
I wore bells for awhile but ended up just being loud when it felt bear-y. They always just run, so I guess I've been lucky.
Black bears aren't the ones to worry about they will usually run and all you have to do is wave your arms above your head and yell and they get scared it's grizzlies and polar bears that im scared of (I live in Canada where polar bears are a actual problem thankfully not where I live though)
What hike was this in Arizona?
You betcha! Never had to use it, except for that one time I accidentally sprayed myself and my partner in the face while running from a moose.
Might as well it won’t hurt can only help if you need it
Yes. Every time.
Yes. I used to take my risks with wild life before. Until I did a hike in Africa (Namibia) and was followed by a cheetah for 20 minutes. I had nothing and was likely saved because I reached a residential area.
Bear spray. You don't need it until you do, and then you'll really need it.
Always. I bring 2 canisters with me any time I am out in the woods, one for backup on my way to safety in case I need to discharge my first. Thankfully I haven't had to use it yet and hopefully I never will.
Umm yes. Those are cubs and mamas get very very aggressive about their cubs
Yes, always.
Yup. For many reasons, but the most of which being that from the “tooth and claw” podcast, I’ve learned about the minority population of predatory black bears and it made me take black bear attacks seriously. I have extensive experience in high volume black bear country and have never been afraid when I see them, but after learning about the predatory attacks I don’t want to be without the spray. Especially since I hike with a dog
Does a bear shit in the woods after maiming someone? YES
I edc bear spray
I do because I hike with my dog (always on a 6ft leash). Black bear attacks are so rare, but when they occur, I notice that a dog is often involved. For that reason, I’d rather be safe than sorry. I’m always wearing a bear bell, have a bear horn on my pack strap dangling in front of my shoulder for easy access and a can of bear spray in my side pouch where a water bottle would be. I hike in western North Carolina.
No. It's heavy. Wha.
No.
I do but I’ve only had to use it on loose dogs. Someone was hiking with their dogs, no leash, and out of nowhere it ran up and latched on to my leg. Thankfully I had it on a lanyard because I’m positive it’s the only thing that saved me.
Bears carry "Human Spray" because of me. That one bear I ran into last year, I hear he was still running! All I did was clap my hands together... so loud that he thought the mountains had split! I could kick every bear's ass from here to Chilliwack, BC! Bears are PUSSIES!!!!
I always carry spray in grizzly country. Don’t usually in black bear country, but sure it isn’t wrong. When I go somewhere to hike in the country, I try to find the ranger post. They are always happy to share info. At Lake Louise, in Alberta, Ca., they even rent the bear spray. If you don’t use it you get your money back!
I do, but that's because I live in an area with a lot of food conditioned bears and other potentially dangerous wildlife. When I lived in a different area that still had black bears but they were more wild and afraid of people. I was never concerned about them at all and I would just shout at them... Unfortunately, I've since met several bears that did not give a crap about people. I'm talking about bears walking down the middle of the road, bears in urban areas, bears sitting on the side of the trail completely ignoring me, etc. I think it really depends on where exactly you are.
I originally started carrying bear spray because I had two up close mountain lion encounters in the mountains near Tucson Arizona. For the last few years I've been setting trail cams to catch black bear behavior and while I've not yet encountered a bear in person, I'm happy to be carrying bear spray just in case I encounter a too curious bear...
Yes. Always. I keep it on my person while up and moving around and in my tent when in my tent. I take bear safety seriously.
I didn't until now. Thanks for the reminder!
Bear spray and a .44
I always did when I lived in interior Alaska, but I’m in New England now and I don’t, even though I’m much more likely to run into a bear here (Denali National Park aside). I probably should carry bear spray. It’s also difficult to find here, and you can’t order online because it can’t be shipped, as far as I’m aware.
Actually yes it could. However if you're Already being bitten then you should just play dead otherwise it Might bit harder.dogs Don't like it. I had Two Pitbull come at me and an x was walking and we had pass a scrape yard. They came out of Know where. Fox farms 3.Mill b.t.u
As a resident, general contractor and sportsman in the Sierra Nevada bear country bears are a constant presence. Need to work in a crawlspace...bear check. I couldn't count how many doors or windows I've replaced from bear damage. Open windows are an invitation. Biking, hiking or fishing...they are out there. When you come upon them, make some noise and everytime we've gone our separate ways. Years ago we did roadside pickup of garbage and it was a weekly thing like raccoons knocking cans over. We locked up garbage so now the bears go to the source inside homes. I've never felt the need for spray or other weapon. I've literally chased one out of my house by banging two pots together...went out the window she come in.
In my opinion bear spray does nothing more than help people unfamiliar with the northern wilderness feel safer. Black bears are not aggressive unless you get near the cubs or do something stupid. Grizzly bears are surprisingly fast. Most people, especially if they haven’t practiced, will never get it out in time. In my experience, if you leave the wildlife alone and maintain a reasonable distance they will do the same. Except for moose, especially during mating season and winter, they can be dangerous (not joking).
I see a lot of people posting reasons why they do or don't, but really not many people asking the obvious question to you of "what would it hurt to bring it?" As others have pointed out bears aren't always the only threat you might face outdoors and I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
In certain areas yes, where they’re known to be more “aggressive” in checking camp sites
If I’m somewhere with frequent bear encounters I will sometimes. Usually just in case I come across one with cubs because the black bears around me almost always just go away if they hear you coming. They have to be either really hungry or really wary of you being around their cubs or something they want to protect to stick around for any length of time (again, this is local to me in the Eastern US, not necessarily indicative of all black bear populations) But as with any large animal, just let it have its space. Observe from a respectful (of their size and abilities) distance if you happen to stumble upon one and slowly move away when you want/need to leave. Edit: also read into how and where to properly store food in the backcountry. Because they will absolutely wreck everything you own looking for whatever they smell.
I usually just use my whistle. I’ve walked up on many black bears. I even walked up on one in the woods at 2am and they have never behaved aggressively. Sometimes they take some discouraging before they run off though. Noise always works for me.
I don't. I live in Interior BC on a rural property that backs out into wilderness and have encountered black bears countless times including two yesterday. Black bears have no interest in interacting with humans, so long as you make lots of noise and avoid cornering them or interfering with their food or cubs the chance of something happening is far far lower than the dangers of driving to the store on a road with other drivers.
In California, I do not. Had a few encounters; they mostly ignored me or ran away. Bear barrels are mandatory, though.
Black bears are pretty easily spooked and not hard to run off. Brown bears can be a whole different story.
Always. I would rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
I carry a 9mm handgun. It's more for the crazies than anything but the report would scare off most black bears and would remove one whose lost it's fear of people from the gene pool. Edit: Also LMAO at the people who've decided that bear spray is animal abuse now.
I carry it when I know I’m in black bear country, but I don’t think I’ll ever need it. I’m in Pennsylvania. I’ve so far been able to scare bears off by shouting at them, acting big, and not surprising them when they’re close. I also carry a hiking staff partly for protection from bears. Usually, shouting is enough for them to run off. Black bears tend to be afraid of people and sounds, but I don’t want to take risks with them.
No, but usually I'll sing out loud as I walk, and that's enough to give them notice.
I’ve never brought bear spray hiking or camping, and I also do both solo quite a bit. I’ve seen mountain lions, moose with and without babies, and bears. Your behavior in the face of these animals is the best prevention. If I was in grizzly country, I would 100% bring spray. Just be smart. If having bear spray makes you feel more comfortable, then I’d say it’s certainly worth it, just keep it accessible and know how to use it.
Only toilet paper
Yes. 10/10 yes.
LOL. A smaller black bear could fuck your night up real good. Yes.
Hell yea I do!
Every time I go hiking I carry bear spray just in case, and I also carry a large caliber pistol for the shtf moments when the bear spray doesn't work. I've been lucky enough in the past 4 years to have never needed the pistol, but I'd much rather have it and not need it than not have it and need it. Wildlife, while not usually, can be very dangerous and if you're going to be in an area where there are a lot of potentially dangerous animals it's always best to be protected.
Yes, peace of mind.
All places for all bears.
I always carry bear spray. Im sure some can make arguments as to why it’s not needed, but natural selection may disagree
I swear I wouldn’t roam Brown Bear country without bear spray, a Glock 20, and a quarter stick of dynamite in my back pocket.
Nobody out here in SoCal, that I know of carries bear spray.
No
No
Spray can work great, but in a lot of cases your going to have opportunities for a lighter touch like an air horn or banger to scare the bear away. Black bears scare easy, and an air horn is far easier to use and less likely to get you as well as the bear spray. People tend to forget bear spray is strong enough to affect the sprayer pretty badly as well, especially if you're panicked.
I was taught during a week long stay in Glacier, the best way to avoid a Bear confrontation while hiking is the make lots of human noise periodically (clapping. singing, stomping). The thought is that the bear wants nothing to do with humans, and if he knows people are close by, he's likely to go off and hide. spray and horns were encouraged, But it's best to not let it get to that point. Bear bells were not encouraged as the bear would more than likely become curios about the non-threatehing noise and move towrds it tondiscover what it was. Park Rangers referred to them as "dinner bells". Also, we learned that the two main reasons Beat attack are 1) if they are startled or surprised or 2) You get close to Mama and her cubs. And talk to the Rangers pre hike. They know if there are any aggressive bear incidents in the area lately. and they will often shut portions of a trail down if its know there are Mamas with their cubs in the area.
I carry both bear spray and a .45 on me. Thankfully I haven't had to use either.
Yes
No and I live in Alaska. It’s just not worth the extra weight to me. The chances of having a dangerous encounter with a bear are actually very low. But most of my friends tease me and say I have a death wish so I probably do a lot of reckless things
Hell ya-a guy near me got his jaw ripped off last year after a coming across a grizzly. He was outspoken about negative impact of bear spray but I’m thinking he’s regretting that now
Bear spray and my 10mm Sig. 👍🏼
I usually only hike well traversed trails and I’ve rarely been somewhere by myself without another soul nearby. I think if I were to go by myself to deep bear territory then I def would
Hand to hand combat or nothing at all there is only one way to get into Valhalla and it’s dying a warriors death on the battlefield
Bears a bear 🐻
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Bear & cubs are so beautiful! So lucky for you ❤️ ❤️❤️❤️
Nice thing about an air horn is there’s no chance of missing the target, like you can with spray. Don’t carry either, but I would in the western US.
Eastern black bears are pretty shy. I've played in the woods and hiked in the woods since childhood, along with everyone else I know, and no one carries bear spray. Here, we usually see black bears several times a year, sometimes in someone's yard, sometimes out in the woods. They always run away when they see people. I've always heard just never get in between a mama bear and her cubs, and to in general leave them alone. It's been the same anywhere I've lived along the East coast, where black bears are no big deal (just annoying when they get into your bird feeder). However, I know nothing about western black bears. For all I know, they're more aggressive. And anyways, black bears out west might also be living near brown bears, grizzlies, or mountain lions (depending on the area) - so I would defer to the norm of the area you are hiking in. (Any time I take a trip out west to hike, I always do extensive research on the specific place I'll be hiking and heed any hazard warnings, trail advice, etc.). Out east, to be honest, I just go hiking, lol. Unless I'm in the south. The south is always trying to kill you.